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Picking Movies for Seniors with Memory Loss – Three Tips

Everybody needs to sit back and unwind from time to time. What better way to relax than to enjoy a classic from the silver screen. Movies are a wonderful form of entertainment that transport us all over the world and allow us to imagine ourselves in the roles of the characters on screen. Just like the rest of us, people living with memory loss still do very much enjoy movies. When picking out a movie for your loved on, consider the following…

• Keep it short – The Lord of the Rings extended edition is not the movie that you’re looking for! Instead, look for a film that’s closer to 90-120 minutes.

• Keep it simple – The simpler the plot is to follow, the less frustrated your loved one will be when they miss what’s going on. Remember the Wizard of Oz? They’re literally following a yellow brick road from the start to the finish of their journey

• Keep it fun – Smiling puts people in a good mood. Particularly when you’re considering people with memory loss who might be prone to spouts of grumpiness, a movie that it fun and upbeat will go a long way in helping them keep a positive mindset for the rest of the day. Musicals are particularly good at this. They’re easy to follow, upbeat, and familiar to most people. Moreover, music memories go deep in the mind, so you might be surprised when your loved one starts singing every single word to each song.

Top 5 Musicals
The Sound of Music
Singin’ in the Rain
South Pacific
West Side Story
My Fair Lady

Top 5 movies
The Wizard of Oz
It’s a Wonderful Life
Roman Holiday
Miracle on 34th Street
Fantasia

Top 5 TV shows
I love Lucy
Andy Griffith Show
Gilligan’s Island
Green Acres
Golden Girls

It just takes a little bit of imagination to keep our three simple tips in mind when picking a movie or TV show to watch with your loved one. Now go play a short simple movie, and have some fun!